Conservation treatment of LOVE

We’re committed to preserving our collection so that artworks can be enjoyed not only now, but also in the future. On January 9, Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture will temporarily go off view from our Dudley and Mary Louise Sutphin Mall to undergo conservation treatment. Accepted as the original version of Indiana’s LOVE sculptures, our LOVE is fabricated in Cor-Ten steel. Indiana was one of the first artists to work with this material and when it came into use in the 1960s, little was known about how it would withstand the outdoor elements over an extended period of time. Many of Indiana’s other works, including his later LOVE sculptures, are made using painted aluminum, which provides an added layer of protection to endure the elements.

Prolonged contact with water has caused the Cor-Ten steel to corrode over time. The combination of Indianapolis’ climate and the shape of the sculpture have resulted in uneven drying, which has accelerated the deterioration. The uneven drying has also caused red, orange streaks on the surface of the sculpture, altering the intended appearance of the work. Water has penetrated the interior of the sculpture and become trapped, triggering internal corrosion and weakening the metal, which has resulted in holes and split seams throughout the sculpture.

To assess the sculpture’s condition and develop a new conservation plan, the IMA worked with several consultants, including an outdoor sculpture conservation expert and a representative from the company who originally fabricated the sculpture. They recommended that the sculpture be removed from outdoor display in order to preserve the work. When conservation treatment concludes in spring 2017, LOVE will debut in its new home inside our Pulliam Family Great Hall, where it will welcome guests into the galleries as it has welcomed guests to the IMA campus for the past decade.

The LaCrosse Family has offered a $10,000 challenge to help raise funds for the LOVE conservation and other important conservation projects required to care for the IMA’s world-renowned collection. Please help LOVE by making a gift today.

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